27.07.2026 13:50
An Indian worker was killed by an elephant he was trying to feed with a traditional sweet called "jaggery". The elephant violently trampled the man to death in the middle of the street. The incident was witnessed with astonishment by the crowd in the city. The elephant handler was taken into custody.
Horrifying images revealed the moments a worker was tragically crushed to death by an elephant on a crowded street.
Vijay Holkar, 49, found himself on the ground after the elephant suddenly attacked him on July 25 while he was trying to feed it 'jaggery' (raw sugar), a traditional Indian sweet.
The footage shows the elephant suddenly turning on the worker on a busy street in Chandan Nagar, India, after its mahout hit it on the head with a stick.
Immediately after, the elephant wrapped its trunk around Vijay and violently threw the unfortunate man to the ground; then it began mercilessly trampling his legs, back, and abdomen. The recordings show Vijay struggling to get up as the elephant crushed him on the asphalt, and the elephant eventually releasing him and walking away.
This horrifying attack, which occurred near the Raj Nagar police station, took place before the eyes of a bewildered crowd nearby. It was learned that the elephant was being paraded through the city by a group of religious figures collecting donations.
It was reported that Vijay had approached the animal just before the disaster to feed it. The severely injured man was first taken to a government hospital, then referred to a private hospital where he died despite all interventions.
Witnesses stated that the elephant appeared extremely docile just before the attack, which lasted only seconds. Chandan Nagar Police Commissioner Tilak Karole announced that the autopsy revealed Vijay died from severe internal bleeding.
The police have launched a wide-ranging investigation to determine whether the necessary permits were obtained from forest district authorities for the elephant to be paraded in such a busy urban area.
The elephant's mahout, known in the region as 'Umesh Goswami', was taken into custody for failing to keep the animal under control. Goswami was charged under sections 106 and 291 of the Indian Penal Code (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), covering causing death by negligence and unauthorized handling of an animal.
Elephants, considered sacred in many parts of India, are sometimes used by religious groups for fundraising. This practice continues despite growing concerns from animal rights advocates about the mistreatment of elephants.
It is notable that this blood-curdling incident occurred shortly after another tragic accident in eastern India, where a herd of elephants crushed six people to death, including a three-month-old baby.